NEW ORLEANS – As part of the Interior Department’s youth initiative to engage the next generation of outdoor stewards and inspire millions of young adults to play, learn, serve and work in the great outdoors, City officials joined National Park Service Deputy Director Peggy O’Dell and Greg Phillips, President & CEO of New Orleans Dryades YMCA, Monday to announce that the Department of Interior has selected New Orleans as one of the first 50 cities to participate in the nationwide movement.
The initiative, funded through a $5 million national commitment by the American Express Foundation, will provide two years of funding for the New Orleans Dryades YMCA to create a community coordinator position in New Orleans to help coordinate efforts, facilitate collaboration, grow resources, and increase participation in outdoor programs on all public lands – from local parks to federal lands and waters. The funding will also support efforts to engage young adults and veterans to serve on the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps and engage new volunteers during next year’s National Park Service centennial
“Children across our nation are increasingly disconnected from nature, yet playing outside and learning about the natural world is fun, healthy and builds confidence in kids,” O’Dell said. “Engaging volunteers of all ages in caring for parks and public lands in New Orleans not only leverages public resources, it builds pride and a connection to these special places that stays with people forever. New Orleans is blessed with parks and national public lands close by, and a strong network of public and nonprofit leaders committed to getting kids outdoors, active and connected to nature. Through this new partnership, with the financial support of American Express and community connections of the YMCA, we are nurturing a movement to foster the next generation of leaders and outdoor stewards while helping people connect to the public lands in their community – particularly in urban areas like New Orleans.”
“New Orleans is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Interior to provide additional opportunities for our young people to live happy, healthy lives,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Providing quality, safe and engaging programs for all New Orleans children remains one of my top priorities. Opportunities for youth to learn and grow in parks and green spaces will inspire our young people to be active, outdoor stewards for generations to come.”
"Many people in our urban neighborhoods don't always have the chance to experience all that our public lands in and around the city have to offer," said Phillips. "This initiative will help us bring together leaders in conservation, education, recreation and service to provide opportunities to deepen connections to these natural and historic sites, develop important skills, and engage in activities where they can give back and strengthen our community."
"Community service and historic preservation have a long heritage at American Express," said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. "Since our founding more than 160 years ago, American Express has seen how America's parks and public lands contribute to our sense of national and local identity, and we are proud to lead an effort to mobilize a new generation of volunteers to protect, conserve and revitalize America's public lands and treasured national parks."
Launched by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in 2013, the Department’s youth initiative seeks to engage and employ the next generation to play, learn, serve and work in America’s great outdoors. This past March, Secretary Jewell announced this partnership with the American Express Foundation and kicked off the first cities across the country to be a part of this movement. New Orleans joins 26 cities that will be announced in 2015. The remaining cities will be identified in 2016.
The Department’s youth initiative is part of an overall strategy by the Obama Administration to connect young people to the outdoors. Other efforts include the President’s recently announced “Every Kid in A Park” initiative to provide all fourth grade students and their families with free admission to national parks and other public lands and waters for a full year, First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside!” initiative, and the National Park Service’s “Find Your Park” campaign in preparation for next year’s centennial of the National Park System.
